Friday, December 21, 2012

Jazz guitarist Jeff Perry has a been called a "fusion guitarist in the best sense of the word" with a "personal voice that encompasses the intelligence of jazz with the emotion of the blues and the romanticism of Brazilian music" (Blues News Magazine) The nationally-known jazz club the Dakot calls him "Fabulous...one of the Twin Cities' Best". Perry has been recognized for his composing skills by jazz legend and Grammy-winner Dave Holland and by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Schooled both "on the street" and at the country's top music schools - Berklee College of Music, Boston MA and the American Conservatory, Chicago, IL - the guitarist has been influenced by a wide variety of music including Dixieland, swing, Bossa Nova, be bop, cool jazz and pop and rock music. He skillfully combines these influences to create a unique and inviting sound. ~ CD Universe

PAUL ZABORAC TRIO - ACTUALIZE

On the album Actualize, the Paul Zaborac Trio, featuring Bill Williams on bass and Deva Permana on drums, explores the concept of using the saxophone as an accompaniment instrument through the various extended techniques available to the saxophone. By using the saxophone in such a way, the ensemble explores and pushes the boundaries of the traditional tenor trio format. This novel approach to the saxophone is also juxtaposed with more traditional approaches to the instrument and ensemble, creating a music rich in contrasts and textures. The inspiration for exploring the concept of using the saxophone as accompaniment came from listening to jazz piano trios. In this ensemble a wide variety of textures can be created despite the limited instrumentation because of the piano's ability to provide both accompaniment and melodic material. This affords the ensemble a large degree of flexibility that is not as easily achieved in a jazz saxophone trio due to the saxophone's limited comping ability. This led one to explore using the vast array of extended techniques available to the saxophone as a means for it to function as an accompaniment instrument and provide more diverse textures. Inspiration for how to effectively utilize these extended techniques was largely drawn from the classical contemporary saxophone idiom, where there are examples of them being applied in a virtuosic and musical fashion. ~ CD Universe

THE ARCH STANTON QUARTET - ALONG FOR THE RIDE

The Arch Stanton Quartet, based in upstate New York, is putting a new spin on bop and post-bop jazz, with angular funk and latin grooves, expansive improvisation and inventive original tunes steeped in the post-bop tradition.

"Recorded live, this pianoless group offers up a magnificent seven originals and one classic cover. A highly eclectic CD, the material ranges from straight-ahead harder bop ('Along for the Ride') to more cerebral Monk-flavored rock-tinged fare ('Modest Sleuthing'). 'Della Royale' struts a Cajun-flavor and 'Flying Gurnard' exhibits freer expressive tonalities on which the group shines brilliantly. 'Compared to What' (not the Les McCann-Eddie Harris classic) pounds a heavy beat and 'Estate' ('Summer') is a beautiful rendition that sends it all home." -Nick Mondello, review of "Along For The Ride" on CDBaby